Welcome to the new Fibrosmart.com
You can begin to eliminate your fibromyalgia symptoms today with the only products (see list below) that work to relieve pain, balance and enhance your immune system, treat IBS and restore vital minerals that are known to be deficient in fibromyalgia patients. Restore energy and revitalize your system with superior products containing D-Ribose and other vital energy enhancing ingredients. Keep your system healthy with superfoods.
• Systemic Enzymes (minimum 3 months)
• Probiotics (minimum 3 months)
• Magnesium (minimum 6 weeks)
• D-Ribose for energy (minimum 6 weeks-5gr. per day)
• A natural sleep aid (as long as needed)
New product: Zymessence, a more potent systemic enzyme
Along with these products diet and exercise can have a profound effect on fibromyalgia symptoms. Low carb - no sugar often reduces pain and restores energy. Many fibromyalgia patients find that increasing protein (a whey protein drink) also helps heal muscle pain and increases energy.
Gentle exercise like swimming can also help greatly. Hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms are also great for removing toxin build up in your system.
Finally, a gentle homeopathic sleep remedy like Calmes Forte can be taken for long periods to retrain your body to fall asleep fast and sleep longer, giving restorative sleep that is essential.
*While everyone is different, it is important to remember that supplements can take up to 3 months to work, they are not drugs and will not work as fast as prescription medications.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a disease of widespread soft-tissue pain and stiffness. It often coincides with symptoms of persistent fatigue, exercise intolerance, disrupted and non-restorative sleep, tension headaches, migraines, blurred vision, abnormalities of the skin or fingernails, painful menstrual periods, numbness or tingling, heart palpitations, sleep apnea, temperature sensitivity, restless legs, impaired cognition, irritable bladder, and intestinal symptoms of irritable bowel, bloating, gas, belching, pain and distention. [5,6] Over the years, it's been referred to as myofibrocitis, myofascitis, myofascial pain syndrome, muscular rheumatism, and fibrocitis (inflammation of fibrous tissues). [5] Because the soft-tissues are not really "inflamed," fibromyalgia is considered to be a more accurate term for the disease.
The word, fibromyalgia has Latin and Greek roots; fibra (fibrous), myo (muscle) and algos (Pain), which literally mean "pain of the fibrous tissues and muscles." The American Medical Association acknowledged the existence of fibromyalgia in 1987. The Arthritis Foundation classifies fibromyalgia as a form of soft-tissue rheumatism. In 1990 the American' College of Rheumatology established criteria for its diagnosis, including 18 common tender points, and a history of widespread pain for 6 month or longer. In 1992 a group of international experts established the formal definition of fibromyalgia in a report called the Copenhagen Declaration. This report endorsed the 18 tender points as criteria for diagnosis and formally acknowledged many of the other symptoms commonly seen with fibromyalgia. [5,6]
Fibromyalgia afflicts an estimated 6 million Americans and accounts for $9 billion annually in conventional medical care and another $13 billion in alternative treatments like naturopathy, acupuncture and massage therapy. Sixty percent of cases are diagnosed between ages 30 and 50, eighty to 90% of which are women. [5,6]
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. Nerve pathways somehow become sensitized and hyperactive to pain until nerve signals of pain become chronic. [5,6] Studies have shown that fibromyalgia patients have decreased levels of certain nerve transmitters and amino acids in their spinal fluid. Substance P and Serotonin are nerve transmitters for pain and sleep, respectively Endorphins and Enkephalins are opiate-like nerve transmitters that dull the perception of pain. [5] Substance P is composed of 11 amino acids, Serotonin is derived from Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, and Endorphins and Enkephalins are composed partly of proteins. It's believed that decreased levels of Serotonin may be a factor in the sleep disruption problems commonly seen in fibromyalgia patients. Essentially, fibromyalgia is a disease of biochemical imbalance, with soft-tissue symptoms of pain and stiffness that often coincide with other physiological disorders. [5,6] The tendency to develop the disease may be partially due to heredity. [6]
Soft-tissue changes seen in fibromyalgia are presumed to be the result of a self-perpetuating cycle of pain-activated spasms, causing more pain, which causes more spasms. The soft-tissue becomes chronically congested, and the delivery of oxygen and other nutrients, as well as the removal of metabolic wastes and acids, becomes impaired. [6] Symptoms often manifest after trauma, infection, or stress, or are secondary to other diseases such as lupus or cancer. [5] The symptoms of pain and stiffness maybe the result of injury and insufficient tissue maintenance and repair in the muscles and the myofascia, a fibrous tissue that encapsulates muscles, individual muscle fibers, and is continuous with the tendonous bands that attach muscle to bone. [6]
A similar disorder, known as Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS), is associated with soft-tissue injury, repetitive strain, or long-term spinal misalignment. MPS is often found together with fibromyalgia. [6] Myofascial pain syndrome differs from fibromyalgia in that the pain is localized rather than widespread, affects men and women equally, and has trigger points only in areas of past injury.5'6 Fibromyalgia is considered a biochemical imbalance, whereas MPS is considered a neuromuscular disorder. [6] The fact that MPS and fibromyalgia often occur together may indicate a common factor in the cause of both disorders.
Scans of fibromyalgic muscle tissue by electron microscope reveal abnormalities of increased deposits of glycogen (muscle sugar), abnormal mitochondria (organelles that produce the cellular fuel, ATP), DNA fragmentation, and damaged muscle cell membranes. An enzyme needed for ATP production may also be defective in fibromyalgic muscles. Some muscles appear to be deficient m oxygen, perhaps from pain- activated muscles clamping down on normal blood circulation, or from abnormalities in the red blood cells themselves. The exaggerated pain signals associated with neuro-physiological imbalance may also contribute to micro trauma of muscle fibers that goes unrepaired. [5] Growth hormone, a protein-based molecule needed for muscle maintenance and repair, is manufactured during deep sleep. Some researchers believe that decreased levels of growth hormone, due to disrupted sleep, may be part of the reason for the unrepaired muscle damage seen in fibromyalgia. [5,6]
References:
(1.) Cartmell, John W., Nutritional Considerations in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Frontier Perspectives, The Center for Frontier Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, Summer-2000
(5.) Wallace, Daniel and Janice, Making Sense of Fibromyalgia, Oxford University Press, New York, 1999
(6.) Starlanyl, Devin, Copeland, Mary Ellen, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome, New Harbinger Publications, Inc., Oakland, CA, 1996
John W. Cartmell
Quick Fibro Facts
• Up to 80% of fibromyalgia patients suffer from irritable bowel syndrome
• Fibromyalgia patients are known to be deficient in magnesium
• Fibromyalgia patients are 5 times more likely to suffer from insulin resistance than the general population
• Fibromyalgia patients have 50 times the amount of tartaric acid in their blood than healthy individuals
• A simple test for fibromyalgia - fibromyalgia patients often have no moons on their fingernails
You can begin to eliminate your fibromyalgia symptoms today with the only products (see list below) that work to relieve pain, balance and enhance your immune system, treat IBS and restore vital minerals that are known to be deficient in fibromyalgia patients. Restore energy and revitalize your system with superior products containing D-Ribose and other vital energy enhancing ingredients. Keep your system healthy with superfoods.
• Systemic Enzymes (minimum 3 months)
• Probiotics (minimum 3 months)
• Magnesium (minimum 6 weeks)
• D-Ribose for energy (minimum 6 weeks-5gr. per day)
• A natural sleep aid (as long as needed)
New product: Zymessence, a more potent systemic enzyme
Along with these products diet and exercise can have a profound effect on fibromyalgia symptoms. Low carb - no sugar often reduces pain and restores energy. Many fibromyalgia patients find that increasing protein (a whey protein drink) also helps heal muscle pain and increases energy.
Gentle exercise like swimming can also help greatly. Hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms are also great for removing toxin build up in your system.
Finally, a gentle homeopathic sleep remedy like Calmes Forte can be taken for long periods to retrain your body to fall asleep fast and sleep longer, giving restorative sleep that is essential.
*While everyone is different, it is important to remember that supplements can take up to 3 months to work, they are not drugs and will not work as fast as prescription medications.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a disease of widespread soft-tissue pain and stiffness. It often coincides with symptoms of persistent fatigue, exercise intolerance, disrupted and non-restorative sleep, tension headaches, migraines, blurred vision, abnormalities of the skin or fingernails, painful menstrual periods, numbness or tingling, heart palpitations, sleep apnea, temperature sensitivity, restless legs, impaired cognition, irritable bladder, and intestinal symptoms of irritable bowel, bloating, gas, belching, pain and distention. [5,6] Over the years, it's been referred to as myofibrocitis, myofascitis, myofascial pain syndrome, muscular rheumatism, and fibrocitis (inflammation of fibrous tissues). [5] Because the soft-tissues are not really "inflamed," fibromyalgia is considered to be a more accurate term for the disease.
The word, fibromyalgia has Latin and Greek roots; fibra (fibrous), myo (muscle) and algos (Pain), which literally mean "pain of the fibrous tissues and muscles." The American Medical Association acknowledged the existence of fibromyalgia in 1987. The Arthritis Foundation classifies fibromyalgia as a form of soft-tissue rheumatism. In 1990 the American' College of Rheumatology established criteria for its diagnosis, including 18 common tender points, and a history of widespread pain for 6 month or longer. In 1992 a group of international experts established the formal definition of fibromyalgia in a report called the Copenhagen Declaration. This report endorsed the 18 tender points as criteria for diagnosis and formally acknowledged many of the other symptoms commonly seen with fibromyalgia. [5,6]
Fibromyalgia afflicts an estimated 6 million Americans and accounts for $9 billion annually in conventional medical care and another $13 billion in alternative treatments like naturopathy, acupuncture and massage therapy. Sixty percent of cases are diagnosed between ages 30 and 50, eighty to 90% of which are women. [5,6]
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. Nerve pathways somehow become sensitized and hyperactive to pain until nerve signals of pain become chronic. [5,6] Studies have shown that fibromyalgia patients have decreased levels of certain nerve transmitters and amino acids in their spinal fluid. Substance P and Serotonin are nerve transmitters for pain and sleep, respectively Endorphins and Enkephalins are opiate-like nerve transmitters that dull the perception of pain. [5] Substance P is composed of 11 amino acids, Serotonin is derived from Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, and Endorphins and Enkephalins are composed partly of proteins. It's believed that decreased levels of Serotonin may be a factor in the sleep disruption problems commonly seen in fibromyalgia patients. Essentially, fibromyalgia is a disease of biochemical imbalance, with soft-tissue symptoms of pain and stiffness that often coincide with other physiological disorders. [5,6] The tendency to develop the disease may be partially due to heredity. [6]
Soft-tissue changes seen in fibromyalgia are presumed to be the result of a self-perpetuating cycle of pain-activated spasms, causing more pain, which causes more spasms. The soft-tissue becomes chronically congested, and the delivery of oxygen and other nutrients, as well as the removal of metabolic wastes and acids, becomes impaired. [6] Symptoms often manifest after trauma, infection, or stress, or are secondary to other diseases such as lupus or cancer. [5] The symptoms of pain and stiffness maybe the result of injury and insufficient tissue maintenance and repair in the muscles and the myofascia, a fibrous tissue that encapsulates muscles, individual muscle fibers, and is continuous with the tendonous bands that attach muscle to bone. [6]
A similar disorder, known as Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS), is associated with soft-tissue injury, repetitive strain, or long-term spinal misalignment. MPS is often found together with fibromyalgia. [6] Myofascial pain syndrome differs from fibromyalgia in that the pain is localized rather than widespread, affects men and women equally, and has trigger points only in areas of past injury.5'6 Fibromyalgia is considered a biochemical imbalance, whereas MPS is considered a neuromuscular disorder. [6] The fact that MPS and fibromyalgia often occur together may indicate a common factor in the cause of both disorders.
Scans of fibromyalgic muscle tissue by electron microscope reveal abnormalities of increased deposits of glycogen (muscle sugar), abnormal mitochondria (organelles that produce the cellular fuel, ATP), DNA fragmentation, and damaged muscle cell membranes. An enzyme needed for ATP production may also be defective in fibromyalgic muscles. Some muscles appear to be deficient m oxygen, perhaps from pain- activated muscles clamping down on normal blood circulation, or from abnormalities in the red blood cells themselves. The exaggerated pain signals associated with neuro-physiological imbalance may also contribute to micro trauma of muscle fibers that goes unrepaired. [5] Growth hormone, a protein-based molecule needed for muscle maintenance and repair, is manufactured during deep sleep. Some researchers believe that decreased levels of growth hormone, due to disrupted sleep, may be part of the reason for the unrepaired muscle damage seen in fibromyalgia. [5,6]
References:
(1.) Cartmell, John W., Nutritional Considerations in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Frontier Perspectives, The Center for Frontier Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, Summer-2000
(5.) Wallace, Daniel and Janice, Making Sense of Fibromyalgia, Oxford University Press, New York, 1999
(6.) Starlanyl, Devin, Copeland, Mary Ellen, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome, New Harbinger Publications, Inc., Oakland, CA, 1996
John W. Cartmell
Quick Fibro Facts
• Up to 80% of fibromyalgia patients suffer from irritable bowel syndrome
• Fibromyalgia patients are known to be deficient in magnesium
• Fibromyalgia patients are 5 times more likely to suffer from insulin resistance than the general population
• Fibromyalgia patients have 50 times the amount of tartaric acid in their blood than healthy individuals
• A simple test for fibromyalgia - fibromyalgia patients often have no moons on their fingernails
